March 2008
Forging Ahead with the Deer Management Plan

Significant progress on the Trust’s Deer Management Plan (DMP) has been realized during the last several months.  As you may remember, the broad objective of the DMP is to bring the local deer herd back into balance with the local ecosystem.   Managed hunting will be the DMP’s primary method of reducing the deer population.  Within this larger framework, there are four distinct long term goals:

• The restoration of currently degraded native plant communities;
• An improvement in quality and diversity of local bird habitat;
• A reduction in the incidence of Lyme Disease; and
• A reduction in the number of deer/vehicle collisions.

Landowner Outreach & Hunter Co-ops
Since our last report, nearly two-thirds of the landowners within the DMP Focal Area have been contacted to gather information about existing hunting practices on their properties and answer any questions related to the program.  This information includes whether a property is hunted, and if so, by whom and whether that person hunts as an individual or as part of an organized hunting association.  Integrated into the database within our Geographical Information Systems (GIS) software, this data was subsequently mapped and has been used to better understand the overall “hunting picture” within the DMP Focal Area.

In an effort to simplify the Focal Area and improve the ability for the Trust and participating landowners to manage the program, the Focal Area has been divided into 13 distinct “Hunting Co-ops”.  Several factors were considered in the delineation of the Co-ops, including geography, existing landowner/property relationships and the fair distribution of viable hunting territory.  It is envisioned that within each Co-op, one landowner will volunteer to coordinate the involvement of other landowners in that particular Co-op.  The Co-ops will be the primary level at which communication with landowners and hunters occurs and the DMP is implemented.

Aerial Infrared Survey
On January 28, 2008, an aerial infrared deer count was conducted utilizing grant funds awarded to the Trust by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.   We are grateful to State Representative Duane Milne for his sponsorship of our successful grant application.  Deer count data is most beneficial from a “before and after” standpoint; the data collected in January will be used to determine the approximate deer density at the onset of the DMP and then compared to future aerial surveys within the Focal Area a few years hence.   We will also use the data to compare ourselves with other communities experiencing similar pressures.  The aerial data will greatly assist us in understanding the effectiveness of the DMP over the long term.  As to results of the aerial survey, approximately 4,000 acres within the Focal Area were flown and photographed in January, with approximately 275 deer counted, equating to 44 deer per square mile.

Monitoring
In consultation with botanist Janet Ebert and Audubon PA, six plant and bird monitoring sites have been tentatively identified within the DMP Focal Area.  These are the sites at which baseline plant and bird inventories will be conducted.  Subsequent monitoring will occur annually to gauge the degree to which the anticipated decrease in the local deer herd is affecting native plant regeneration and the quality and diversity of the bird populations within the various plant communities.

In addition to plant and bird monitoring, the Trust has also developed a survey to collect Lyme Disease and deer/auto collision data from Willistown Township residents.  The current survey seeks information regarding the incidence of Lyme Disease and auto collisions with deer during the three year period between 2005 and 2007.  Going forward, the Trust will conduct the survey every three years with the expectation that a decrease in the size of the local deer population will be reflected in a concurrent decrease in the incidence of Lyme Disease and deer/auto collisions. 

Venison Donation Plan
The Trust is currently developing a system to streamline the logistics and decrease the costs associated with processing harvested deer and channeling excess venison to people and organizations in need.  We believe that as the mechanics of processing the venison become more efficient and the cost minimized (or eliminated all together), hunters will be more inclined to harvest a greater number of deer.  Stay tuned as we continue to refine this aspect of the Plan.

Partnerships & Collaboration
Audubon Pennsylvania continues to serve as a key partner in the development of the DMP.  In 2003, Audubon PA designated the Trust’s program area as the Upper Ridley/Crum Creek Important Bird Area (IBA), recognizing the unique role this area serves as critical bird habitat, and emphasizing the need to protect it from external pressures such as deer. 

We are very fortunate and grateful for the commitment of the DMP Steering Committee members who continue to provide critical input to the direction and strategy of the DMP.  Steering Committee members include Dan Potts (Chairman), Brian Byrnes, Sheila Shorr, Norman MacQueen, Ted Leisenring and Bob Lange.

As we have said previously, the success of the DMP ultimately relies upon the involvement and cooperation of local landowners, and we look forward to working with many of you as we collectively address the issue of protecting our area’s unique natural resources from the very real threat posed by today’s excessive deer population.

OH, DEER!
There are too many

The mass of preserved land in the Willistown area (6,000 acres and growing!) provides the Willistown Conservation Trust with a unique opportunity to promote good land management practices throughout our countryside. In that regard, the overabundance of white-tailed deer in the Trust program area is the greatest management challenge we have.  The excessive number of deer threatens the natural resources, human health and quality of life of our community in the following ways:

June 2, 2008 - Trust's Deer Management Plan in the News

Many thanks to reporter Anne Pickering from the Chester County Daily Local who highlighted the Trust's partnership with Audubon in her article Partnership Focuses on Deer Management.

1. Too many deer destroy native wildflowers, tree seedlings, woodland understory vegetation and other habitat upon which birds and other wildlife depend for both food and shelter. 

2. Too many deer destroy millions of dollars worth of residential landscaping each year.

3. Too many deer cause extensive damage to farm crops.

4. Too many deer are responsible for the growing proliferation of deer fences.

5. Too many deer cause the spread of Lyme disease in humans and other animals.

6. Too many deer are the cause of numerous automobile accidents.

Recognizing the urgent need for a solution to the deer dilemma, the Trust has committed to create and implement a deer management program that will ultimately result in bringing the local deer herd back into balance with the natural resources of our area. To this end we will be consulting with a number of partners including our colleagues at Audubon Pennsylvania; natural resource specialists; township, county and state officials; and other land trusts.  Specific strategies will include 1) identifying and mapping a deer management focal area; 2) contacting landowners within the focal area to register with our program and to create a data base of information;
3) communicating with landowners and hunters within the focal area as to the need to increase the pace of deer management; and 4) working with landowners and hunters to implement and monitor a plan to reduce the herd using traditional hunting methods.

We realize that reaching the “vision” of bringing the local deer population back into balance with nature will not be easy nor will it happen overnight, but we believe that, with the help and support of the remarkable Willistown community, it can be done. We encourage your questions and comments and will keep you apprised as the deer management program is refined over the next few months.  

Important Deer Facts

• Unmanaged deer herds can double in size every 2 years
• There is no birth control for free-ranging deer
• High deer populations lead to high Lyme disease rates
• The northeastern United States has the highest rate of lyme disease in the US
• There were 4000 deer-vehicle accidents/day in the US in 2004
• Woodlands can only support 10-15 deer per square mile without suffering damage
• Deer are causing loss of native bird and plant species due to over browsing
• Areas in Willistown have over 100 deer per square mile
• At less than 8 deer per square mile, deer ticks have trouble reproducing and virtually disappear
• Deer reduction could dramatically reduce Lyme disease .thin 5 years
• Numerous studies have proven that removing deer through controlled hunting is the most practical and effective means for addressing this problem.  

http://www.ecosysmp.com/

http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/pbfiles/PB1643.pdf

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/11346473.htm